Go ahead for homes on old Sir Henry Parkes School site

PLANS for 211 homes on land where Sir Henry Parkes Primary School once stood in Canley have been given the go ahead.

The city council's planning committee heard some objections to house-builder Taylor Wimpey's application as part of the Canley Regeneration.

Concerns have been raised the design of the homes, the loss of green space and the lack of a park on the development. Questions were also asked about the transport links to the land on Prior Deram Walk.

But the council chose to approve the plan at a meeting on Thursday.

The decision was welcomed by ward councillor David Skinner.

"The residents of Canley have been, in my view, quite amazingly patient. Many will be delighted that, at last, Canley Regeneration is taking another major step forward," he said.

"The debate on housing, against the urgent need to preserve green space generally, will no doubt go on for decades, but on this development, itself largely on already used ground, I am utterly clear."

Some 42 of the homes are set to be so-called affordable housing with 21 available for rent through housing associations and 21 on a shared ownership basis.

Sir Henry Parkes Primary closed in 2003 along with Alderman Harris School following the decision to merge them into what is now known as Charter Primary.

The masterplan for regeneration in Canley is over 700 homes, a hotel and park.